Lubricating composition for conduits and raceways

ABSTRACT

An alcohol water solution of poly(ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of about 4 million makes an extremely effective lubricant for applying to wire or cables which are to be pulled through conduits or raceways.

United States Patent Moorhouse 5] Dec. 9, 1975 [5 LUBRICATING COMPOSITION FOR 3,699,052 10/1972 Halko et al. 252/493 CONDUITS AND RACEWAYS [75] lnventor: 'lalzomas R. Moorhouse, Anoka, Primary Examiner Delben E Gamz Assistant Examiner-l. Vaughn [73] Assignee: American Polywater Corporation, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jacobson and Johnson Anoka, Minn.

[22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 505,637 [57] ABSTRACT [52} US. Cl 252/493; 72/42; 252/52 R An alcohol water solution of p y( y n oxide) [5l] Int. C13. ClOM 1/06; ClOM 3/04; ClOM 5/04; having a molecular weight of about 4 million makes an CIOM 7/08 extremely effective lubricant for applying to wire or [58] Field of Search 72/42; 252/493, 52 R cables which re to be p lled through conduits or raceways. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS H1966 Ackerman 252/493 5 Claims, No Drawings LUBRICATING COMPOSITION FOR CONDUITS AND RACEWAYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to lubricants and, more specifically, to a lubricant that can be applied in liquid form to an object that is to be pulled through a conduit.

2. Description of the Prior Art One of the problems in pulling wires and cables through conduits or raceways is the friction between the outside of the wire and the inside of the conduit. If the runs are extremely long, it becomes very difficult to pull the wires through the conduit with the use of a fish. In addition, care must be taken so as to not use excessive force on the fish to cause the wires to rupture or be broken as they are pulled through the conduit. One of the prior art solutions to this problem is to apply a solid petroleum base lubricant to the outside of the wires. While a solid lubricant works fairly well, it is necessary to apply a by hand and remains on the cable or wire as a heavy residue. This is objectionable as the ends of the wires must be pulled through the raceways or conduits to project from the ends of the conduit a sufficient distance so that the wires can be connected. Before connecting the wires, it is necessary to remove the lubricant from the wire. In addition, a person is likely to get the lubricant material over his clothes and his hands when he proceeds to wipe off the wires.

An alternate solution to the problem of pulling wires or cables through raceways and conduit is to utilize junction boxes spaced at intervals and make partial pulls thus decreasing the friction occurring in the long run.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention comprises the discovery that an alcohol water solution of polyethylene oxide in which the polyethylene oxide has a molecular average weight of about 4 million and the poly(ethylene oxide) ranges from about .5 to about 5% in solution produces a lubricating compound that can be applied to conduit or wires and the like in liquid form, a lubricating compound which will not freeze during use in cold climates and a lubricant which evaporates leaving a very fine residue which is not slippery nor does it interfere with the utilization of the wires.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The concept of a water base lubricating compound utilizing a major amount of water is well known in the art. A typical example is the Acheman US. Pat. No. 3,227,652 titled Lubricating Composition, which teaches the making ofa lubricant for use in metal forming grinding and machine operation. The present invention, in contrast, is not directed to lubricating compositions for use in cutting operations but instead is directed toward the discovery that a water alcohol solution of poly (ethylene oxide) makes a short life lubricating compound which for a predetermined time provides lubrication between the surfaces and upon evaporation of the water alcohol solution provides a relatively clean, unslippable surface. This feature makes the lubricant extremely useful for an application in which only temporary lubrication is required.

These features have great advantage for use in the electrical and telephone industries for pulling wire through conduit or raceways. More specifically, the present lubricant is easily applied by pouring the lubricant into the conduit or on the wires. The material is characterized by a togetherness referred to in the art as pituity. This feature allows the lubricant to be easily applied and placed along a unit or a conduit. In addition to the ease in applying the lubricant, the lubricant, upon evaporation of the alcohol water solution, leaves a very thin residue which does not have to be cleaned off the wires. Furthermore, the residue is not slippery so as to cause problems in handling the wires.

The following examples illustrate the mixture and useable ranges of my lubricating compound.

EXAMPLE 1 Six grams of powdered poly(ethylene oxide) having an approxiate weight average molecular weight of 4,000,000 was mixed with I00 ml of methanol. The mixture was poured as a slurry into 894 ml of water and stirred with low shear means, i.e., a paddle that would not cut through the material and reduce the pituity of the mixture. The mixture was allowed to set for about an hour or until the mixture appeared as a clear, homogeneous viscous and highly stringy (pituitous) liquid. The liquid was used as a lubricant for pulling telephone cable into an underground conduit by pouring the liquid on the cable. Upon evaporation of the alcohol water solution, a very fine residue of poly(ethylene oxide) remained on the cable. However, the residue was so slight as to be invisible as well as no longer having lubricating characteristics when dry. Consequently, the cable did not need cleaning before use.

EXAMPLE 2 The compositions were prepared according to Example l except that the range of methanol was varied from 5% by volume to 50% by volume. In each case, the results were substantially the same as noted in Example 1 except that the higher concentration of methanol allowed one to use the lubricant composition at temperatures of 45F. When the mixture of methanol was less than 5%, it was found the methanol produced a paste which did not freely or rapidly mix with the requisite low shear.

EXAMPLE 3 The process of Examples 1 and 2 was repeated with the substitution of ethanol and isopropanol. Both produced substantially the same results at substantially the same volume mixture, however, the methanol had the advantage of more effectively lowering the freezing point of the lubricant.

EXAMPLE 4 The process of Examples 1, 2 and 3 was carried out while the range of poly(ethylene oxide) was varied from .5 to 5% by weight of the mixture. All of the mixtures had the general required degree of lubricity with the .5% being about the minimum amount of lubricant and the 5% being the maximum amount usable because of the excess of solid residue remaining.

EXAMPLE 5 The process of Examples l, 2, 3 and 4 were repeated with the weight average molecular weight of poly(ethylene oxide) ranging from l00,000 to 5,000,000. While all the mixture had the general attributable of pituity and lubricating the poly(ethylene oxide) having the weight average molecular weight of 4,000,000 produced the best results because it produced the maximum lubricant with the minimum amount of residue.

The poly(ethylene oxide) is commercially available under the trademark Polyox from the Union Carbide Corporation, with the preferred average molecular weight being sold under the designation of Polyox WSR-30l.

The addition of the alcohol has been found not only to lower the freezing point of the lubricating composition but to inhibit the oxidation of the poly(ethylene oxide) thereby providing good shelf life to the lubri cant.

The present lubricating compound has thus been found to have a good shelflife when stored in a closed container and a short lubricating life once it is exposed to the ambient atmosphere.

I claim:

1. A liquid lubricant for lubricating the engagement of articles which are to be pulled through an elongated conduit, the lubricant being a solution by weight ranging from .5 to 5% of poly(ethylene oxide) that has a weight average molecular weight ranging from l00,000 to 5,000,000, about 5 by volume to about 50% by volume of alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol with the remainder being water.

2. The lubricant of claim 1 when the weight average molecular weight is about 4,000,000.

3. The lubricant of claim I wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.

4. The lubricant of claim 2 wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.

5. The lubricant of claim 1 wherein the article to be pulled through a conduit comprises wires. 

1. A LIQUID LUBRICANT FOR LUBRICATING THE ENGAGEMENT OF ARTICLES WHICH ARE TO BE PULLED TJROUGH AN ELONGATED CONDUIT, THE LUBRICANT BEING A SOLUTION BY WEIGHT RANGING FROM .5 TO 5% OF POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) THAT HAS A WEIGHT AVERAGING MOLECULAR WEIGHT RANGING FROM 100,000 TO 5,000,000, ABOUT 5 BY VOLUME TO ABOUT 50% BY VOLUME OF ALCOHOL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF METHANOL, ETHANOL ANS ISOPROPANOL WITH THE REMAINDER BEING WATER.
 2. The lubricant of claim 1 when the weight average molecular weight is about 4,000,000.
 3. The lubricant of claim 1 wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.
 4. The lubricant of claim 2 wherein the alcohol comprises methanol.
 5. The lubricant of claim 1 wherein the article to be pulled through a conduit comprises wires. 